On a courtesy call extended by the Speaker of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Babar Saleem Swati, the U.S. Consul General in Peshawar, Mr. Thomas W. Eckert, visited the Speaker’s Chamber and met with the Speaker. The meeting was conducted in a cordial and constructive atmosphere and served as an introductory session aimed at strengthening bilateral engagement and exploring areas of cooperation.

Mr. Eckert was accompanied by Ms. Kathleen Giblisco, Political and Economic Officer at the U.S. Consulate General, Peshawar. From the KP Assembly side, MPAs Mian Sharafat Ali, Sajjad Ullah Baqi, Akber Ayub Khan, and Fateh ul Mulk Nasir were present. Special Secretary Administration, Syed Wiqar Shah, facilitated the session on behalf of the Assembly.

During the meeting, both sides discussed matters of mutual interest, including bilateral cooperation, regional stability, and opportunities for economic collaboration. Emphasis was placed on strengthening institutional linkages and promoting sustained diplomatic dialogue. The meeting also focused on business, trade, and investment opportunities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with particular attention to the mines and minerals sector and potential initiatives for its upgrade and modernization.

Speaker Babar Saleem Swati expressed hope that the United States would propose constructive measures to support sectoral development and public welfare. He reaffirmed that the Provincial Assembly and Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa welcome all initiatives contributing to economic growth, improved governance, and overall prosperity. The U.S. Consul General also expressed interest in continued collaboration in trade, infrastructure, and resource development.

Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi, while addressing the provincial cabinet meeting, strongly condemned what he described as the “unjust imprisonment and continued isolation” of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi. He said that despite the harsh winter, basic necessities were not being provided to them in jail, adding that the use of water cannons on Imran Khan’s sisters was “deeply shameful.” The provincial government, he stated, “strongly condemns this unfair and inhumane treatment.”

The Chief Minister informed the cabinet that a subcommittee had been constituted during the NFC meeting to safeguard the province’s financial rights, which will be headed by the Provincial Adviser on Finance. The committee’s recommendations will be presented to the forum. He reiterated that all political and legal avenues would be pursued for securing the province’s due rights. He directed the Finance Department to send weekly letters to the federal government regarding outstanding NHP and NFC payments to maintain a complete record. Highlighting long-standing financial issues, he noted that the merged districts were promised Rs. 100 billion annually for development; however, only Rs. 168 billion had been provided in seven years, leaving Rs. 532 billion still outstanding.

Addressing newly appointed secretaries, the Chief Minister said their appointments were made strictly on merit, expressing hope that they would uphold transparency and meritocracy. He made it clear that strict legal action would be taken immediately if any department was found involved in corruption. He instructed all departments to submit proposals for development projects for the 2026–27 ADP by mid-February, adding that public welfare projects must be prioritized to ensure maximum facilitation for citizens.

The provincial cabinet also approved the E-Transfer Policy 2025 for teachers under the Elementary & Secondary Education Department. Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi said the new policy would ensure transparency and merit in line with the vision of the founding leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan, enabling teachers to focus on their primary responsibility of imparting education. He added that despite a ban on postings and transfers in the province, more than 400 recommendations had been received, none of which were entertained.

Officials briefed the cabinet that the E-Transfer Policy incorporates key indicators such as length of service at the current school, student-teacher ratio, and annual performance results. Additionally, disability, widowhood, separation, and spouse posting factors have also been assigned weight in the policy to ensure fairness and facilitation for deserving cases.

Explaining the details of the decisions taken in the 42nd Cabinet meeting, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Information and Public Relations, Shafi Jan, said that the provincial cabinet has taken a series of major decisions aimed at strengthening governance, improving public services, and supporting vulnerable communities across the province.

He said the cabinet undertook a comprehensive review of the education sector and, in addition to the E-Transfer Policy, approved funds amounting more than two billion for the completion of Good Governance Roadmap interventions for E&S Education. These include the infrastructure improvement in primary schools and the phased implementation of the Education Internship Program & Innovative Interventions in E&SE Sector.

To support higher education, the cabinet approved measures to strengthen the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Endowment Fund by releasing a one-time grant-in-aid of Rs. 300 million. The enhancement of the seed money will help provide scholarships to students across the province, including the merged districts.

The cabinet also approved Rs. 2.1 million as a grant-in-aid for an Umrah package for six family members of the late Jawad Khan of District Mardan, the first young deceased organ donor in the province.

According to the SACM, several administrative matters were approved, including the nomination of the Vice Chancellor of an engineering university to Pakistan Engineering Council for the 2024–27 term, the posting of Director of the Higher Education Academy of Research & Training (HEART) Peshawar, and the transfer of two Specialist Doctors to MTI-Bannu.

To reduce poverty, the cabinet approved the release of funds for the Ehsaas Rozgar Program, which offers interest-free microloans with a 60-month repayment period to help more than 8,000 vulnerable individuals start or expand businesses. The cabinet further approved funding for improvements to the allied infrastructure of the Bara River Canal System in District Khyber.

In the health sector, the cabinet approved bridge-financing of Rs. 2,130.165 million for the project “Khyber Institute of Child Health & Children Hospital Peshawar,” ensuring completion of remaining work and procurement of essential equipment. It further approved Rs. 454.156 million for the operationalization of the Health Sciences Institute at Jamrud, including building repairs, furniture, equipment, and other requirements.

To ensure uninterrupted immunization services, a block allocation of Rs. 253.160 million was approved for vaccinators. Additionally, the cabinet approved a budget of Rs. 60 million for the Policy Board of the Medical Teaching Institutions and an additional grant of Rs. 1,573.84 million for Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar to meet its medical equipment requirements.

The Cabinet approved a feasibility study for the establishment of the Tribal Medical College and a Rs. 10 million grant for a cancer patient’s treatment, he said.

The cabinet also approved the revised cost of the “Establishment of 260 Family Welfare Centers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” scheme at Rs. 1,976.093 million. A one-time grant-in-aid of Rs. 200 million was sanctioned for the Small Industries Development Board (SIDB), with directions to prepare a comprehensive business plan to ensure self-sustainability. An enhancement of funds was also approved for the ongoing upgradation of two agricultural research institutes into Centres of Excellence.

Furthermore, the cabinet, he said, approved a grant of Rs. 5 million to the Quaid-e-Azam Mazar Fund, which supports the maintenance and repair of the mausoleum of the Father of the Nation. The fund is administered by the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture with contributions from federal and provincial governments as well as public donations.

SACM Shafi Jan said that the cabinet approved special compensation of Rs. 2.5 million for each injured person in the recent incident in Shalobar Qamber Khel, Tirah Maidan. It also approved funds for the purchase of two bulletproof vehicles for judges of the Peshawar High Court.

The cabinet also approved forwarding a joint resolution of the Provincial Assembly to the federal government, highlighting the urgent need to improve digital connectivity in Upper South Waziristan.

The Cabinet members, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretaries, Administrative Secretaries, and Advocate General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa attended the meeting. (ends)

Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad Jan, Assistant Professor, Centre for Preparedness and Disaster Management, University of Peshawar, moderated the panel discussion on Youth for Climate Action: Empower, Engage, Endure opened the session by asking what role young people can play in addressing the climate crisis.
Dr. Hizbullah, Climate-Change Expert and Former Director, Department of Environmental Sciences, highlighted the link between climate change, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, and pointed to programmes such as the One Billion Trees Tsunami, the Green Career Launchpad, and the Green Growth Initiative, while noting the shortage of climate-related research and the limited dissemination of existing studies for public awareness.
Mr. Syed Abdullah Shah, Additional Secretary at the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, emphasised the religious and social responsibility of climate resilience and shared that the revised Youth Policy will focus on four key areas: education, employment, engagement, and environment.
Mr. Habib Jan, Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stressed that meaningful behavioural change requires ownership and responsibility, arguing that youth must be positioned as central stakeholders in policymaking. He outlined approaches to mitigation and adaptation, the need for funding, the importance of green entrepreneurship, and awareness on waste management and water conservation.
Mr. Kashif Syed, Bureau Chief, Pashtoon Digital shared his personal efforts, including planting 500 trees in his hometown and leading plantation activities across the University of Peshawar, calling for more practical, individual-level climate action.
Dr. Shakeel Khan, Focal Person at the Business Incubation Centre, underlined the significance of youth as a vital component of national progress and highlighted the need for mobilising young people through awareness and effective youth-led initiatives.
The event also featured distinguished guest speakers, including Prof. Dr. Jahanzeb Khan, Vice Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology, invited as the Chief Guest, who discussed the social character of youth, environmental anxiety, weak legal implementation, and the identity crisis that limits youth ownership in climate action.
Prof. Dr. Naeem Qazi, Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of Peshawar, who encouraged an individual-centric approach to environmental responsibility and stressed the value of annual plantation drives.
Dr. Anwar Alam, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, spoke about youth awareness of climate challenges and resilience.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Basharat Hussain, Chairman of the Department of Criminology, expressed gratitude to the speakers, panellists, and participants and reiterated that climate action must begin with individual commitment. The event concluded with a shield distribution ceremony, followed by a group photograph to formally mark the closing of the session.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education, Arshad Ayub Khan, formally inaugurated the province’s first School-Based Assessment Portal on Friday at Nishtar Hall, Peshawar. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Secretary Elementary and Secondary Education Muhammad Khalid Khan, the Director of Elementary and Secondary Education, and other relevant officials.
Addressing the ceremony as the chief guest, the Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education, Arshad Ayub Khan, said that the present government attaches great importance to the education sector. He added that the government’s top priority is to introduce a clean and transparent education system and to provide all children in the province with equal access to high-quality, modern education that meets international standards.
He stated that under this portal, students from grade three to grade eight in schools across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will take online examinations in English, Mathematics, and Science. Speaking further, the provincial minister said that through the School-Based Assessment Portal, students will be able to take their exams in an easy and transparent manner according to their academic abilities.
He added that the current government’s foremost priority is to ensure that all children in the province receive modern and quality education, and all available resources are being utilized to achieve this goal. Earlier, the provincial minister formally inaugurated the portal.